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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have kicked the cat out on Xmas eve?

106 replies

PoisonousSmurf · 24/12/2016 22:12

For the last two weeks she has been trying to kill the tree and wee on the presents under the tree.
I just want an upright tree and no bin bags under the tree.
Is this too much to ask?
The cat does have a safe place to sleep out of the weather.

Merry Xmas!

OP posts:
longdiling · 24/12/2016 22:34

Firing a water pistol at our kitten has kept her away from the tree

SENPARENT · 24/12/2016 22:35

Merry Christmas to you too Scrooge. Poor cat.

DailyFail1 · 24/12/2016 22:37

Yanbu. It's why I don't have pets.

Frusso · 24/12/2016 22:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RoseGoldHippie · 24/12/2016 22:46

Those that say shut the door, have you never had a cat that digs up the carpet to get into/out of a room?

To be fair, no I haven't but I am aware I'm extremely lucky for this.

PickledCauliflower · 24/12/2016 22:46

I was not suggesting that she literally kicks the cat.
I mentioned that it's an expression that is often used, that I find unnecessary.

The OP asks if it is unreasonable to put the cat out all night (assuming that it would not normally be out all night) so people have given their opinion.

My cats tend to stay out all night on warm summer nights. I know of some cats that are more hardy than mine - but I would keep them in regardless when fireworks are going off.

EveOnline2016 · 24/12/2016 22:48

Cat is locked out of down stairs, he litter box is in the bathroom where it is normally kept and she is asleep on my bed as always.

Had to move her food and water but all with be forgiven < hopefully > with some turkey tomorrow.

YorkiesGlasses · 24/12/2016 22:52

Can't you put her bed, bowls and litter tray in the bathroom overnight?

Frusso · 24/12/2016 22:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Benedikte2 · 24/12/2016 22:58

We have to have out tree in the conservatory where it can be seen in the living room through sliding glass doors. It's artificial but he will try to chew it and it falls over so be started to do this year's ago. Fortunately he doesn't feel the need to wee on anything except his litter -- maybe because he was neutered and isn't stressed.
I old never put a cat out at night because it's then they are more likely to get into fights (leading to disease, injury and infections, road accidents and fox attacks).
Pets should be regarded as members of the family and if it's too cold to put your child out its too cold for your pet.

melj1213 · 24/12/2016 22:58

*Is everyone getting worked up about the cat going out at night or because OP said "kick the cat out" which I doubt she meant literally.

I've just put our cat out. She asks to go out almost every night except when it's torrential rain or freezing.*

But the OP doesn't say "I'm sick of the cat peeing on the tree/presents, she goes out regularly, including being out overnight, and she's begging to go out now, AIBU to leave her out until the morning?"

She just says she's kicking the cat out ... it's one thing if the cat is used to being out all night and/or being out in bad weather, but if it's only used to being out for a couple of hours, or in warmer weather then it's cruel to put the christmas tree over your cat's welfare.

I have two cats, one has always been a house cat but one was an indoor/outdoor cat who is now a house cat. She used to be my parents' who live in a semidetatched house, in a quiet cul-de-sac with large gardens but when I moved out into a terrace with busy roads on all sides so I didn't let her out for a good few weeks after I moved and she has turned into a very spoiled housecat who has no interest in going outside, except in summer when she likes to bask in the sun, but only in the back yard. If she went out all night when she was stil at my parents' she would be abslutely fine with that regardless of the conditions but now it would really upset her to be kicked out all night, especially in such cold/bad weather as we have tonight and she would be terrified.

wevecomeonholidaybymistake · 24/12/2016 22:59

Our cat is out every night. He hates staying in, digs up the carpet and howls.
He's much happier outside and comes back for breakfast then sleeps all day.

danadas · 24/12/2016 22:59

It's a cat. It will be fine.

Salmotrutta · 24/12/2016 23:01

Our cats are little Arseholes prefer to be outside.

They would go mad cooped up inside.

And they have lots of nooks and crannies outside with access to shelter, food and water.

Amazingly they even love being outside in very cold Scottish weather - which apparently our Scottish wildcats can also tolerate.

Do people seriously think cats will perish at temperatures that we have in the British Isles? Hmm

Wolfiefan · 24/12/2016 23:01

I agree with Benedikte. Much too likely that a cat will suffer an injury at night. Shut cat away from presents and tree.
Re scratching at carpet. We put a bit of Lino under the door. If they couldn't get at the carpet by the door then they didn't scratch.
Poor cat. It's freezing and blowing a gale here. Much better to be curled up on a sofa or bed inside. (One of mine is under the duvet!)

weeblueberry · 24/12/2016 23:02

I find it interesting on these threads that people forget the OP could be anywhere in the world. Where we are is beautiful and mild this evening. I'm fairly sure the OP is able to make a judgement call about whether her cat is safe outside or not...

sizeofalentil · 24/12/2016 23:03

The cat won't perish but could well be scared cold and miserable. Very mean.

1horatio · 24/12/2016 23:04

Our old cat always used to be out every night, unless it was below freezing....

Salmotrutta · 24/12/2016 23:04

melj - where do you live that it's "such cold/bad weather" - it's not cold and it's not "bad". Hmm

It's a bit windier than normal but I'm fairly sure a cat will cope...

Salmotrutta · 24/12/2016 23:05

Why is it likely that a cat will suffer an injury at night?

Twogoats · 24/12/2016 23:06

I have two cats. One of them only comes in for food, he's outside the rest of the time, rain or shine (his choice)!

MistressMerryWeather · 24/12/2016 23:08

Salmotrutta :o

My old cat was also clearly as hard as nails because he preferred to be outside at night whatever the weather (NI here). He would have gone mad if we locked him in a room for hours.

I doubt this is a poor house cat getting the shock of its life by being chucked out in the rain.

Puss will be fine.

HelenaWay · 24/12/2016 23:10

Our cats go out all night as well. It will be fine.

zukiecat · 24/12/2016 23:12

Poor cat!

Go and let her in, and just shut the door to the room that the tree is in

I have four cats, and we only have a tiny tree these days because of all the ones they have wrecked. Presents have never been put under any tree in my house, I used to keep them in cupboards until early on the 25th I'd put them on the floor ready for the DC when they got up

After my DC, my cats are the beings most precious to me and I'd never have left them outside on a cold night ( or any night, my cats like to be indoors, and they all sleep on my bed anyway)

melj1213 · 24/12/2016 23:16

melj - where do you live that it's "such cold/bad weather" - it's not cold and it's not "bad". hmm

I live in a coastal town, in the North West of England where it currently is freezing, raining (currently just drizzling but every so often it absolutely hammers down) and blowing an absolute gale outside my house ... I had to go and blutack my door knocker down earlier because it was that windy it sounded like half the neighbourhood was trying to get my attention!